my current WIP

i generally don't post too much here about my job, in an effort to keep my work life and my personal life separate. but for the purpose of my current WIP, it involves a little bit of both!

i am a project manager at Peter Mayer, a family-owned advertising agency here in New Orleans. i've been here for almost 5 years and love working in a fast-paced environment with creative people. one of the cooler parts of our building includes "the bead wall" that hosts the agency's former logo made entirely out of mardi gras beads. 

me and cricket in front of the bead wall, 2013

i like having personalized needlepoint pieces because it tells a story. so i took a picture of the bead wall and had annie from needlework vault paint it on a canvas for me. the perfect size for a christmas ornament. i knew that i would bead most of the canvas.. after all it is the bead wall. which is precisely why it sat in my stash for close to 3 years, it was an ambitious endeavor and i always had other projects i was working on. 

i pulled it out last month and started mapping out my plan. again, i wanted to do as much from my thread stash as possible, so i used my sundance beads and got to work. 

i've neglected to post until now because it has all been somewhat mindless work. progress doesn't seem as enticing to show because the beading process takes significantly longer.

luckily, my sweetheart has been busy with work, so it's given me more time to devote to making headway on this! originally i thought i would bead the entire blue background, but that would have been boring. i decided to break it up with framed scotch in metallic ribbon floss, and using the beads as the frame. it adds a fun pattern and helps make it more dynamic. as of last night, i finished all the lettering and moved on to the 2nd cloud. i figure i'll "reward" myself by outlining the scotch in blue beads once i can complete the monstrosity that is the clouds.

i could have probably done way more to this canvas to make it pop. i could have "don-beaded" or i could have stranded the beads and couched it down in a cool swirly design, but honestly i wanted it to go as quickly as possible. i know i'll love it when it's completed and finished, but the process to get there is less fun compared to other projects that i'd like to move on to. have you ever had a project like that?

2015 stitching goals

happy 2015!

i'm setting my sights on a few projects that i want to complete this upcoming year, and hope to continue making a dent in my stash!

(ok maybe not finish the entire nativity, but at least start it?)

so i know i'll definitely have to make a purchase for this special project. my cousin and his wife are expecting a baby boy in may! i'll add his initials and birth date for a special christmas surprise next year. 

i've also got a secret project i'm currently working my way through, more about that later. i'm not sure how much of this list i'll be able to get through, but i'm going to try my best!

hitting the holiday road!

hoping to post some progress pics during my vacation and roadtrips. 

happy holidays!

a holiday finish

there's something i love about cross stitch and the holidays. it feels so nostalgic, and stitching it gets you excited for the season. this adorable piece by country cottage needleworks was in my stash for a while, so i figured why not?

the simplicity of the tree, coupled with that great pink bow makes it an instant favorite for me. can't wait to frame it and make it part of my christmas decor!

friday finish

currently, my goal is to stitch only from my stash (threads included). it's been a fun and much-needed challenge, and i love being resourceful. of course there will be times that i do need to make a quick lns run, but i'm trying to save that for thread/bead emergencies. 

this painted pony sorority ornament had been in my stash for a few years. i got it during a trunk show and then tucked it away while i focused on other projects. 

after consulting my thread collection, i was delighted to find i had all the materials i would need to complete it, so i got to work. i apologize that in hindsight i didn't take in-progress pictures!

i switched up the main "body" of the heart because i knew i didn't want to mess with trying to count around the light blue painted areas. i really wanted to do pavillion diamonds in navy blue splendor. unfortunately the crappy camera work doesn't show how luxurious and shiny it is, but i love it

 criss cross hungarian was the obvious choice for the top portion with an offset cross in treasure braid. i chose to keep it simple in the middle with basketweave in silk lamé so that the beaded keys would really pop. i love how it turned out, this would make such a cute and easy gift for your favorite Greek girl!

it's nice to be back...

the interesting thing about a hobby is how it changes and grows with you. these past few months as i slowly dusted off my needles and quickly realized how much i missed it, it hit me how much this little hobby of mine has grown with me the past few years. 

i always loved needlepointing: the minute i took that first beginner's class, there was no turning back. when i moved to new orleans, i found myself with tons of time to devote to my newfound hobby because at the time, i was married to someone who had to study for school so much. it was great! i could spend so many hours adding to my stash, picking out thread, working on projects...and i got so much completed! stockings, a belt, ornaments, gifts, a giant sampler, all within 2 years. but as my marriage slowly disintegrated and we started living 2 separate lives (because we were 2 different people), i retreated into my hobby. i used it as a way to escape the pain i was dealing with and instead channeled it into projects.

and then when i finally found the courage to change my circumstances, i decided to change my habits too. i didn't want to escape into my needlepoint hobby and i didn't want to use it as an excuse not to go out and live my life. so i took a much-needed break, and it was exactly what i needed. i took time to focus on me and the things that are truly important to me. i explored the extremely daunting world of dating again and ended up finding someone truly special. someone who recently encouraged me to revisit my hobby. and i was scared. what if it became another escape? what if i let it consume me?

but that's just not the case. and i realize now that because i'm different, needlepointing is different. i'm happy, content and fulfilled in my personal life, and because of that, my hobby is just that: a hobby. i find myself in a healthy relationship where we love spending time together, but also enjoy spending time apart exploring our own interests. there is a balance. i'll stop myself before this gets all sappy, but i wanted you to know that i'm in a really great place. the best.

so that brings us to the most important question of the past year...what have i been working on? when last we left off i believe i had finished this holiday cross stitch

and this cute little petei santa

i had also started working on my next petei santa, which i am happy to say, i finished!

obviously i haven't trimmed the fur yet, but i always wait until it comes back from the finisher before i "manscape."

i have more goodies to share, so check back soon!

boots & beads is coming back!

hi lovelies! i'm working on some new posts for you with lots of stitchy updates, hope you will check back this week to see!

xoxo